Poor diabetes control tied to leg artery disease
Key points
- In adults with diabetes, elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels - an indicator of poor glucose control - are associated with an increased risk of reduced blood flow to the legs, a condition known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
- Among 1,894 middle-aged adults with diabetes, the risk of hospitalization related to PAD increased with increasing tertiles of HbA1c level, doctors found, as did the risk of intermittent claudication - a cramping leg pain that occurs in patients with PAD.
- Specifically, patients in the second and third tertiles of HbA1c level were 53 percent and 64 percent more likely, respectively, than those with the lowest HbA1c to have PAD, the results indicate.
- The researchers note that trends toward higher risk of PAD with higher HbA1c level were evident for all manifestations of PAD, regardless of whether or not diabetes had been diagnosed.
In adults with diabetes, elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels - an indicator of poor glucose control - are associated with an increased risk of reduced blood flow to the legs, a condition known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Among 1,894 middle-aged adults with diabetes, the risk of hospitalization related to PAD increased with increasing tertiles of HbA1c level, doctors found, as did the risk of intermittent claudication - a cramping leg pain that occurs in patients with PAD.
Specifically, patients in the second and third tertiles of HbA1c level were 53 percent and 64 percent more likely, respectively, than those with the lowest HbA1c to have PAD, the results indicate.
The researchers note that trends toward higher risk of PAD with higher HbA1c level were evident for all manifestations of PAD, regardless of whether or not diabetes had been diagnosed.
"Our results suggest that poor (blood sugar) control, as indicated by elevated HbA1c levels in individuals with diabetes, is associated with an increased risk of PAD independently of other known risk factors," said Dr. Elizabeth Selvin from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
"This association was particularly strong for the symptomatic, more severe manifestations of PAD, including intermittent claudication and PAD-related hospitalizations."
"Ultimately, our results suggest that efforts to improve glycemic control in persons with diabetes may substantially reduce the risk of PAD development," Selvin added.
SOURCE: Diabetes Care April, 2006.
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
Explore health topics
More in this topic
Diabetes & Hormones →
NewsDiabetes: Control Better, But Still Short of Goal
More patients with diabetes are meeting targets than was the case a decade ago, but there is still room for improvement, especially within certain subgroups, researchers found. About half of patients met goals for…
16 February 2013
NewsNIH study shows big improvement in diabetes control over past decades
More people are meeting recommended goals in the three key markers of diabetes control, according to a study conducted and funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.…
16 February 2013
News"High-glycemic" foods tied to diabetes risk
People who eat a lot of low-fiber and processed foods that quickly spike blood sugars may, not surprisingly, have a significantly higher risk of the most common form of diabetes, according to a new study. "By raising…
15 February 2013
